Government considers ban on smoking outside offices

Smoking outside offices could soon be banned under new legislation, according to the government.

The health minister, Lord Warner, told the House of Lords that the Health Bill, which will come into force next year, would contain powers to outlaw smoking in places that were not “enclosed or substantially enclosed”.

If smoking in these places mean there was “a risk of harm from second-hand smoke due to inevitable close grouping of people” then a clause in the Bill could be enacted to stop it.

However, he said that there would a full public consultation before the powers were invoked, he said.

“The government will implement smoke-free legislation in line with human rights requirements, including the right to respect for private life,” Warner said when questioned whether or not the Bill could stop people smoking in their homes.